Make a LIFE, not just a living!

Building a business is better than going to work! Can you say amen to that?

I know that it is the longterm value in what I am building that motivates me to get up and do it every day. I hear on the news and from friends the terrible ramifications of a company laying some one off after they have invested years building that business for some one else (owner or stockholders). Yes, they were building something, but they had no long term interest in that business.

I believe that our most valuable and limited resource is TIME.... After all it is the only resource every day we each have exactly the same amount. Therefore, it is a good/fair measuring rod of what we produce. If we look at our investment of that time over a long period of time... what is left?

If you look at Robert Kiyosaki's model... there are four possibilities of income/finance that could emerge: emloyee, self-employed, business owner, or investor. The first two of these models in the "cash flow quadrant" show that we are most concerned about "security", and the latter two show our motivation is "freedom". You may think the self employed and business owner are the same, but the BIG difference is that the employee and self-employed (retail owner, doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc) all trade the investment of the hours they have for dollars (I call it trading hours for dollars). The business owner has built a business that pays them because the "system" they have built generates income, and the investment of their hours is not required to generate the income. The investor (at least in stable markets) has accumulated wealth that produces his income.

Each of you who live on the security side...go to "work" (investing your hours) to generate income... the problem with this is the amazing stats of how many people don't like their work, don't being around the people they have to work with, and still invest the majority of their lives there. The key here is finding an opportunity that allows you the opportunity to see light at the end of that tunnel. Can you see pouring yourself into something that at a point and time down the road will no longer require you to make it happen each and every day, yet still produce the income? Many people trade hours for dollars for years counting on 401Ks or Social Security. Today we see that Social Security is virtually bankrupt and many 70 year olds working at a "WalMart" to cover their income needs because of the instability (or Las Vegas like nature) of the stock market and investment world.... not to mention the tax burden that is coming because of the out of control spending in Washington (with NO Accountability).

I found the vehicle that was going to help me reach these goals 20+ years ago (debt free company with great vision and leadership). I new my God revealed purpose and wanted a business that would become a platform to allow me to pursue it. Right from our basement, now in 20+ countries, it has happened for our family.

Now for you... do something that will support your purpose (the reason you are here on this earth). Does your income come at a cost of trading too many hours that have no alignment with your life's purpose? A thought worth pondering, huh? Are the valuable relationships in your life benefiting from hours invested, or are there none left for them?

Right now, in this messed up economy, great opportunity abounds. Most people are buckling down, cutting expenses, waiting for this time to pass..... BUT it is the time to focus on generating new income...not waiting to get back to the same old "hour trading for dollars". Think about what opportunities and resources abound in an economy like ours now????

I'll give you an example... when asking myself the above question, my mind immediately thinks about what is available in abundance, now? Around Atlanta, the first and most obvious would be houses, lots for houses, building materials, and anything associated with the real estate and mortgage industry. The problem there is people can't sell the houses they are in to move (they are upside down in value) and the mortgage industry has learned some lessons (it is VERY difficult to even get a loan to buy, build and do anything with real estate). That will come back but there are difficulties there right now...but opportunity does exist if you have the financial resources without having to rely on the lenders. My second thought is PEOPLE. There is an abundant resource of exceptionally talented people who are not working right now. More than I've seen since about 20 years ago. I remember that well because that was when I started my business.

There are more awesome people who have lost their job, business, etc right now than ever in recent history. These same people were not going to give you the time of day a few years ago to look at exploring new opportunities.... "things were booming" (stock market, 401Ks on the rise, new house, new boat, new beach home, etc). Things are different now. These talented people want to find a new business to pour themselves into.... voila you have your resource, so what's next.

Find a business that highest the highest return by using talented people as your asset.... there are lots, but many of them require huge investments to get started. So, low start-up and people as the greatest asset. I would say find the business that requires you to invest your "non financial assets". There are options, but the most easily seen would be a business, with no up front investment, that allowed you to network people to produce the result that produces the income. OK.. sound easy enough?

You better make sure you choose an industry (in terms of the product or service that these people will deliver) that is postured to grow in the short and long term. Right now those might be:

energy (fuels, ecology, autos, green, etc)
health care (in media daily, aging population, political, prevention/wellness booming)
government (they are $pending, redirect others tax dollars into your business,its not really gov't. $)
water/natural resources (limited resources... life is dependent on water...we're running out)
technology (certain sectors, opportunity abounds in Web 2.0 now that most have broadband)
Environment (anything green gets a green light in Washington)
etc

The demographics point to several categories, but I also look at what the "buzz" all about these days. When working with people and relationships as your greatest asset.... conversation rules. The verbal interaction (not email spam) and media control what people dwell on... its in front of them all the time. No question, #1 right now is HEALTHCARE.....its everywhere. Even without the political crisis brewing... articles everywhere, TV shows, and commercials (telling you to call your doctor YOU NEED THIS PILL) abound.

People, awareness, universal need, and your passion will build you a business that can literally span the globe because of the PEOPLE AVAILABLE in the market place today. What are you waiting for?

Yes I am biased to my business and product. Why?

because I know it works first hand, not through some one touting the "ground floor" deal of the century.
because the company is debt free in an economy that is not "credit friendly"
because the people I have brought to the table with me are experiencing life changing blessings
because we have continued to grow in this environment
we are expanding in many new international markets
research and results are being achieved from the womb thru the elderly
and many more reasons